Fairfax County police issued a reminder this morning (Monday) about the dangers of driving while impaired after an apparently drunk driver crashed into one of its cruisers on I-95 over the weekend.
A 26-year-old man from Arizona was arrested yesterday (Sunday) after allegedly crashing into a marked cruiser belonging to an officer assigned to the Fairfax County Police Department’s Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Squad on southbound I-95 near Fairfax County Parkway in Springfield.
The officer had pulled off to the side of the highway for a traffic stop of a different driver who was displaying reckless behavior at around 4:15 a.m.
“While the officer was speaking to the driver outside of his marked police cruiser with full emergency equipment activated, his unoccupied cruiser was struck from behind by a GMC Sierra,” the FCPD said in a press release.
No injuries were reported, and the vehicle pulled over for the original traffic stop was released.
The Sierra driver was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and charged with a DWI, refusing to take a DWI test, driving with an open container of alcohol, failing to move over for an emergency vehicle, and obstructing justice, according to the FCPD.
The man has since been released from custody on bail and is scheduled to appear in Fairfax County General District Court for an arraignment on Nov. 24, according to online court records. An adjudicatory hearing has been set for Jan. 12, 2027.
In Virginia, the DWI — which is the first such offense for the driver — as well as the failure to move over and obstruction of justice charges are all class 1 misdemeanors, which could result in up to a year of jail time and a maximum fine of $2,500.
“This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers impaired drivers pose to everyone on our roadways, including officers conducting traffic stops and responding to emergencies,” the FCPD said.
According to preliminary state records, alcohol has played a role in 661 crashes on Fairfax County roads so far this year. Those crashes have killed 16 people and injured 446.
The police department said cracking down on impaired driving will remain “a year-round priority” heading into 2027.
Virginia has a Move Over law that requires drivers to slow down and yield the right of way when approaching a stationary vehicle with flashing emergency or hazard lights. Previously limited just to emergency vehicles, state transportation workers and tow trucks, the law was expanded by the General Assembly in 2023 to include any stopped vehicle with hazard lights.
More on the Move Over law from the FCPD:
Under Virginia law, drivers must:
- Move over to a lane not adjacent to the stopped vehicle if it is safe to do so, or
- Slow down and proceed with caution if changing lanes is not possible.
If you cannot safely move over, slowing down and exercising due caution is required. Failing to do either puts lives at risk and may result in enforcement action.
The Move Over law applies to:
- Law enforcement officers
- Fire and rescue personnel
- Tow truck operators
- Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) personnel
- Other emergency or incident response workers
- Any vehicle stopped on the roadside with activated hazard or warning lights
